Why is Tom Udall Afraid of an Energy Debate?

I don't get it. Congressman Steve Pearce challenges Congressman Tom Udall to an energy debate, and Tom Udall runs away from the challenge? (subscription):

With gas at $4 and the energy crunch a topic of daily conversation, Steve Pearce says it’s high time for him and Tom Udall to debate energy issues in their U.S. Senate race.

Udall says it’s too early, but his supporters already are hounding Pearce on the same subject.

An environmental group backing Udall has a rolling billboard of sorts — a Toyota hybrid — portraying Pearce as a poster boy for big oil.

This debate should be a no brainer for Congressman Udall. Prices at the pump are at $4 and rising. Tom Udall and his backers believe that oil companies are to blame, and that alternative sources of energy are the solution to the economic pinch everyday Americans are feeling at pump.

This should be a topic on which Tom Udall should feel confident about debating Steve Pearce any and every day of the week. After all, Mr. Udall comes from a long family tradition of environmental conservationists and has been able to capitalize on his father's name to achieve political success. Sometimes people forget that, like others, he is from one of those dynastic political families - think Lujan, Block, and yes, Bush.

By contrast, Steve Pearce worked his way up from very humble beginnings in the oil fields of Southeastern New Mexico to achieve the American Dream. A self-made man for whom public service has always been a way to give back to a country that has given him so many opportunities.

Steve is not known as a great orator or debater. He is just a regular guy who has worked hard, served in the military, built a business and speaks frankly from the heart. In any debate Steve is going to be at a distinct disadvantage against Mr. Udall's polished debate skills - honed over decades as a lawyer.

I'm sure in any energy debate, Tom Udall would be successful in portraying Steve Pearce as the poster child for the New Mexico oil and gas industry. Udall would probably point out that if it were not for the opportunities presented by the oil and gas industry, Steve Pearce would have never pulled himself out of poverty. Instead, he would have remained struggling and poor in Southern New Mexico and politics would be properly left to the political families - handed down from father to son in true monarch fashion.

Undoubtedly, Tom Udall would point out all that the oil and gas industry has taken from the state of New Mexico and its residents:

The industry provides New Mexico schools, roads and public facilities with more than $1.3 billion in funding each year. It is the state's largest civilian employer. Each night, 23,000 New Mexicans come home to their families from jobs related to the oil and gas industry.

It is the state's leading educational supporter and provides over 90% of all school capital investment through the Permanent Fund, saving New Mexico's taxpayers an excess of $800 annually. The oil and gas industry also makes up 15-20% of New Mexico's General Fund revenues. These are distributed to public schools and state colleges, fund the construction of public roads, buildings and state parks, and help keep New Mexico's government operational.

Yes, I'm sure that Steve Pearce would be left mouth agape and without response as Tom Udall heaped attack after attack on Steve's connections with such a destructive industry operating within our borders.

Then, Tom Udall would undoubtedly go in for the kill. Tom would point out that if New Mexicans were to elect Steve Pearce to U.S. Senate, Steve would most assuredly continue in the tradition of Senator Pete Domenici in an unabashed effort to allow more domestic oil and gas exploration.

Sensing imminent victory, Tom Udall would then put the final nail in the coffin of Steve Pearce's candidacy for U.S. Senate by unveiling two damning photos that show the success achieved by Tom Udall and the environmental groups which support him in preventing more domestic drilling.

The first would be a picture of Dubai in 1990, when we believed drilling for oil and gas in America was still a good thing:


The second would be a photo of the same street in Dubai taken in 2003 after Tom Udall and his friends have successfully fought the continued exploration for domestic oil and gas:



Based on this scenario and its inevitable outcome, I don't understand why Tom Udall is afraid of participating in an energy debate.

Debate Brings Character Flaw to Light

I had wanted to see the first debate between the Republican candidates for the 1st Congressional District, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and State Senator Joe Carraro, but both my kids had early basketball games and politics takes a backseat to family commitments.

Based on news reports, it looks like the most controversial part of the debate occurred before the candidates ever took the stage:

A Republican candidate for Congress objected publicly Saturday when the organizer of a county GOP forum that he and another Republican congressional candidate attended was closed to the media.

"It's a public meeting between two candidates for public office in a public place and it's closed to the media. What are you afraid of?" State Sen. Joe Carraro, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the 1st District, said after the meeting. "It needs to be transparent. We need to not go behind closed doors."

The Republican Party of Bernalillo County sponsored the meeting, which was attended mostly by GOP volunteers and activists and was held at an Albuquerque restaurant.

Ok, normally I would be the first one to agree that all debates by candidates for public office should be open. But, here is the thing. According to the meeting organizer, former State Representative Rory Ogle, both candidates agreed to a "no press" rule:

Ogle said he talked personally with Carraro and White about the rules ahead of time. Carraro denied that he agreed to closing the meeting ahead of time.

Sorry Senator Carraro you're lacking a bit of credibility here. I personally know all three parties involved and only the Senator's story rings untrue. If Senator Carraro had truly objected to the closed meeting ahead of time, he had ample opportunity to raise that objection long before that meeting took place.

Instead, he waited until the morning of the event to try and leverage some earned media by playing the part of the injured party and defender of open government. The problem is that no one is going to believe that Sheriff Darren White, a former news reporter who has never shied away from a little camera time, was personally against press attending the event. Plus, meeting organizer, Rory Ogle, had absolutely no reason to lie.

Senator Carraro's antics leave much to be desired and raise serious ethical questions regarding his personal integrity and character.

Disclaimer: I have made a financial contribution to Darren White's campaign.

Off to a Great Start

Sometimes you read something, and you can't help but shake your head in amazement (subscription):

During the first meeting of Albuquerque's new City Council on Monday, four members refused to attend because of a squabble over who should be president.

Don Harris, Sally Mayer, Ken Sanchez and new Councilor Trudy Jones boycotted the meeting. They met at Capo's restaurant, about three blocks away, and held a news conference later at City Hall.

In their absence, the council elected Brad Winter to serve as president for the next year.

Hmm, last I checked a Council is supposed to be a deliberative legislative body. Usually, deliberation requires people to be in the room. If the liberals on the Council are able to make the others run off and lick their wounds so easily, we are in for a LONG year. I'm agreeing with the Eye on this one.

Governor Richardson's Blatant PR Move

Maybe I'm missing something, but a U.S. Presidential Debate in Spanish (subscription)?

Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson has agreed to participate in a candidate debate in September that's to be conducted in Spanish.

Univision Communications Inc., the nation's largest Spanish-language broadcaster, has invited candidates to a debate planned Sept. 9 at the University of Miami.

"Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of our population and this is a unique chance for all of the candidates to hear and address the concerns and priorities of this important constituency,'' Richardson said in a statement on Wednesday.

Richardson, who is fluent in Spanish, is the nation's only Hispanic governor. He was born in California, but spent his early childhood in Mexico City.

Exactly, who is Richardson supposed to debate in Spanish? Folks this is absurd. Now mind you, Spanish is my father's native language, so I'm not one of these people who think there is something wrong with people speaking more than one language in the U.S.; however, a Spanish language Presidential debate in the U.S. is absurd. It makes as much sense as Rep. Tom Tancredo's posturing last night in the Republican debate that we should close the borders to all immigrants, legal or not.

Hooked on Politics

Even the politically addicted have their limits, and I've found mine. Watching debates between ten candidates from beginning to end is just... well, tedious. You know that when the moderator announces that everyone has 60 seconds to answer questions, you're in for two hours of pointless banter.

Granted, some of the candidates look better than others making their points, but did anyone really say anything of substance? I don't think so.

Sound bites and more sound bites. There has got to be a better way to do this.

Democratic Debate in Manchester

Steve Terrell has blogged the Manchester debate between the Democratic candidates for President, and here is the money line as far as I'm concerned:

8:47 PM EDT: Richardson brags that he's balanced five state budgets. This drives New Mexico reporters nuts! He has to balance the budget according to the state constitution. There's no option.

Yup, that about sums it up in a nutshell. Bill Richardson's biggest accomplishments as Governor of the State of New Mexico has been to do the things he is constitutionally mandated to do.